Episode
DNA Solves Teen Girl's Brutal Christmas Mall Murder
- Podcast
- Forensic Files Unsealed
- Published
- Jul 28, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2068
- Processing state
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Summary
This episode details the resolution of the 1979 cold case murder of Michelle Martinko, a teenager found stabbed to death in a Cedar Rapids mall parking lot. For nearly four decades, investigators struggled without eyewitnesses or a clear motive, until genetic genealogy eventually linked the crime to a man named Jerry Burns. Detectives narrowed the search down to three brothers before using covertly collected DNA from a discarded straw to confirm Burns as the killer. Despite his defense team’s arguments regarding innocent DNA transfer, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder based on forensic evidence and his lack of a firm denial during police questioning. The case concluded with a life sentence without parole, providing long-awaited answers to a community and family haunted by the brutal crime. This narrative highlights how modern forensic breakthroughs can bridge the gap between historical tragedies and contemporary justice. This episode includes AI-generated content.